Johor tourism industry prepares for Asia-Pacific Climate Week 2023

JOHOR BARU: Local tourism players are gearing up for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Climate Week (APCW) 2023.

Johor Tourist Guides Association chairman, Jimmy Leong, said said on Monday (Nov 6) that with Johor Baru playing host, it will be a test for both the tourism industry and state government.

Leong, the Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president, added that local tour guides are preparing tours for the foreign delegates.

“If the APCW is a success for Johor, then it will give us other opportunities to host major international events in the future that would bring in a high number of foreign tourists here.

“Local councils must also make sure that the city is litter-free as these delegates will surely compare us with Singapore,” he added.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Johor chapter chairman Ivan Teo said there are 17,500 hotel rooms for foreign and local visitors in Johor.

He said most hotel rooms have been booked due to the long weekend holiday in conjunction with Deepavali celebrations this coming Sunday (Nov 12).

“This trend is set to continue with APCW, which will be held here a day after the Deepavali celebrations,” he said.

Teo also said hotels in Johor Baru are working closely with tour companies if the delegates wish to do a tour.

“The hotels here are making the necessary preparations to welcome these delegates with open arms and to make sure their stay will be a comfortable one,” he said.

The APCW is jointly organised by the Johor and federal governments and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change from Nov 13 to 17.

About 2,000 delegates from 150 countries are expected to attend the event at Persada Johor International Convention Centre.

The programme in Johor is one of four regional climate weeks this year to build momentum ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai.